Members of the Danville High School Mock Trial Blue Team go over the case one last time before district competition. With attorney Jay Nixon are, from left, Stine Viberg, Kristin Doretich, Caitlyn Nugent, Gunor Doretich, Lelia Dusthimer, Kyle Hawk, Payton Colopy and Melissa Mickley. (Photo by Virgil Shipley)
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Sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-related Education, Mock Trial competitions revolve around a simulated case based on a current constitutional issue important to students. This year’s case involves a high school sophomore who is suspected of setting a fire at the school that resulted in the death of a maintenance worker.

The police engage in a lengthy interrogation process that involves driving to the scene of the crime and the victim’s home as well as various interrogation techniques. Late in the day, the defendant makes a statement claiming responsibility for the fire and is subsequently charged with murder and arson. However, the defendant later recants the confession. The defendant has alleged that the statements were improperly coerced by the police in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and filed a Motion to Suppress.

When the News stopped in at a practice session, Mason Endsley said one of the most interesting facets of the case is that it is not really about the alleged murder and the defendant’s guilt but centers on the motion to suppress the suspect’s confession.

Contact Pamela Schehl

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Danville’s Mock Trial teams succeed in district

Members of the Danville High School Mock Trial Blue Team go over the case one last time before district competition. With attorney Jay Nixon are, from left, Stine Viberg, Kristin Doretich, Caitlyn Nugent, Gunor Doretich, Lelia Dusthimer, Kyle Hawk, Payton Colopy and Melissa Mickley. (Photo by Virgil Shipley)